Gorf and Alpha both instantly recognize what they're looking at. Each notices green tumorous growths on Faleen’s neck that are constricting her breathing. Furthermore they know that the growths are a symptom of demonwort, an ingested poison distilled from a plant native to the Abyss that’s popular among drow assassins and known for causing extremely painful death.
She needs more medical help than you have on hand here. She looks at you with pleading eyes, trying to speak.
With help, she'll be fine now, and help is on the way. Both Gorf and Skiratrisk think they heard the same words, “dressing room… cupcake… Tsuchi-ko… warn…”
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This is a bit like the scene in 'Intrigue of the Intrepid' where the first lieutenant ate the poisoned... apple... that was intended for... It slowly dawns on her what she is saying
Ah, do dechy moo yah! That is just so tacky! Really? Come with me, hurry!
She leaves alpha to deal with the medical emergency, to work on things more suited to her own talent (which is mostly being loud!). She runs off to where she hopes Tsuchi-ko's dressing room is...
Coming through. she shouts, Oh, I'm sorry mister! I need to get through. she tries to be polite, and when that ultimately fails YA! I need to get through!
Zoey's piercing insight can't be denied, but a few of you hear it. You get to Tsuchi-ko's room just as she's about to take a bite of a chocolate cupcake from a lovingly wrapped gift basket!
After you stop Tsuchi-ko from eating the poisoned cupcake, she’s grateful and asks you to "...find out who orchestrated this attempt on my life!" While she’s distraught to think someone involved in the event might be responsible, she believes "...the culprit is likely someone who wouldn’t have raised suspicions backstage with their presence."
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Isn't the culprit whoever gave you that cupcake? Zoey reacts and then says We need to get to the bottom of this! I have to be the detective, just like in 'murder on the Aucturn Express'.
She proceed in providing a rather extensive, dark-voiced fake film-noir voice-over A choking assistant and a basket of cupcakes, but no sign of the culprit. I had seen dark cases in my days, but none as dark as this chocolate cupcake. Every murder case needs a murderer, and every murderer needs a motive. Who would want to harm.. hargh hargh the heavy talking has a bad effect of Zoey's throat as she breaks out in a coughing.
With tears in her eyes from the coughing attack, she looks around
The party starts in Tsuchi-ko's dressing room, looking for clues. Beside the gift basket is a knitted doll made in Tsuchi-ko’s image. The gift basket is labeled as coming from Cocoa Planet, a bakery in the Spike.
Skiratrisk immediately finds contact information for the bakery online, and Zoey remembers seeing a location not too far from the arena.
The others immediately think of Wonder. It appears she's still around, and can be questioned.
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α-CloudChatI.Q.Prime does exactly that, after requesting access to any security camera footage that might show who delivered the muffin basket.
"Wonder, someone just tried to hurt Tsuchi-ko. Now, I know you would never do that; however, I was hoping you might be able to help us found out who did. Do you remember anything about a basket of muffins?"
The security footage may take a bit, so the party looks around for Wonder. She's easy to find loitering in the lobby near the backstage doors, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tsuchi-ko.
"WHAT?! WHO? NOOOOOOO!!!!! Is she okay?" Wonder immediately tears up trying to answer the question. "I was approached by Karalie, who told me that the muffins were a special delivery placed by a wealthy Strawberry Machine Cake fan who wanted to remain anonymous. Karalie offered to sneak me backstage and allow me to deliver the gift basket, so long as I promised never to tell anyone how I got into the building.... WHAT HAVE I DONE?!"
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"I was approached by Karalie, who told me that the muffins were a special delivery placed by a wealthy Strawberry Machine Cake fan who wanted to remain anonymous. Karalie offered to sneak me backstage and allow me to deliver the gift basket, so long as I promised never to tell anyone how I got into the building.... WHAT HAVE I DONE?!"
"Now, now, Wonder. You cannot beat yourself up. Nobody would have guessed that those muffins were dangerous. Besides, it is always difficult to understand the relationship between fan and musician. Without an audience, it is tough to even have a show. The fans become essential. I'm just curious how Karalie really feels. I think we do need to talk to her next."
Going with Zoey's gut, the party looks for Karalie...
It takes a bit, and just when you think she's gone, you spot her frantically trying to do many things at once. She doesn't stop when you call to her, but she slows down so you can catch up, "What? I don't have time to talk. I'm running errands for Lita. You can walk with me, I've got time for, like, three questions. Hurry it up!"
“No. Don’t be absurd. If you're implying that I did it.... This is stupid and I don't have time for it."
"No idea! It wasn't me. I have nothing to do with any muffins. Now excuse me!" She then ducks into the throng of people trying to get the show's finale up and running. For now it looks like you'll need to check other leads.
Striking out, the party crosses their fingers for something on the camera footage.... but they come up empty. The camera angles don't capture anyone entering the room.
Stymied, the Starfinders take stock.
Skiratrisk makes a quick call to the bakery. At first, she's stone-walled, "Yeah right. This is a prank call. there's no way someone from the show is calling here, much less a STARFINDER..."
Alpha decides to question the known prankster. Radat puts his hands in the air plaintively. “I get the optics here, friends. Only undead guy in the room, right? But don’t go pulling out your stakes and holy symbols. This one wasn’t me. Promise. But I get it, who wouldn’t? It’s good drama, and drama is what gets things seen. Anyone who has a stake in the show could’ve done it.” Radat rubs his chin, “Heck, maybe Tsuchi-ko herself staged it for the clicks. It’d only make her more of a media darling.”
Zoey grabs a member of the lighting crew, a half-elf named Liraeus “I didn’t see anything about Tsuchi-ko, but could you please ask Lita Starr’s bodyguards to stay off the catwalk? One of them was just up there and he stepped on and broke a light. I’m afraid to ask myself.”
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"Actually, I was not accusing you of anything - I just thought that someone who had a history of pulling pranks would have been more likely to notice something unusual."
α-CloudChatI.Q.Prime then moves on to asking Lynthia, bowing politely.
"I am truly sorry to bother you, but did you happen to see anything odd recently? More specifically, did you notice anyone delivering a basket of muffins? Someone tried something that definitely crossed over from 'cruel prank' to 'malicious felony', and as much as I hate to admit it, it *probably* wasn't Radat. Any clues you can suggest would be gratefully appreciated."
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Hmm... Zoey says in a fake-ponderous voice Breaking lights is not good. We should check that out later, but a light has nothing to do with poisoning... what could be the clue here...
She even goes as far as to rub an imaginary beard. Ridiculous! Light starts with an L... Alpha is on the right track! Let's ask Lynthia what sheh knows!
The Starfinders work in serial, trying to chase down all their leads at once:
Alpha finds and pulls Lynthia aside, "Ah got it. Poisoning therefore drow? Typical. I heard the description. It sounds like demonwort. If I were to poison someone here, I wouldn’t use a poison from Apostae—not if I knew I’d be the only drow in the room.” She adds, “Apostae-based manufacturers are happy to sell demonwort to non-drow, though generally at an extreme markup. Your poisoner probably has a lot of credits at their disposal.”
She thinks a bit before wrapping up with a thought, “Who stands to gain? Who might fill the void she’d leave? Not me, obviously. Our fans don’t have much overlap.”
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Skiratrisk strikes out, "Yeah right, and this morning I pooped out a new Starstone. We're busy!" She then hangs up.
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Zoey makes a mental note about the catwalks before joining in on the conversation between Alpha and Lynthia